Arizona city bars Satanic Temple prayer at council meeting

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Officials say Scottsdale will bar the Satanic Temple from leading a scheduled prayer at a City Council meeting in July.

City spokesman Kelly Corsette says Scottsdale informed the Satanic Temple’s Arizona chapter that only representatives from institutions that have a substantial connection to the Scottsdale community will be allowed to give the invocation.

Scottsdale now is making other arrangements for the July 6 invocation.

Satanic Temple spokesman Stu de Haan says the city has twice approved plans for the invocation — first for April 5 and then for July 6 when the group had to reschedule for logistical reasons.

De Haan learned about Scottsdale’s decision Monday afternoon. He says it’s too early to say what the group might do next.

The Satanic Temple’s Arizona chapter is based in Tucson.